Let the Good Times Roll | February 24, 2020

Fresh & Local:

Let the Good Times Roll

Most New Orleanians will agree that Mardi Gras is the most magical time of the year. They are wrong (hear me out). The best time of year is the forty days that follow, when we have the best excuse to pinch some tails. With Mardi Gras soon behind us and Lent on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about those tasty Friday fish fries and seafood boils.

We recently learned at a sustainable fishing conference that 90% of the seafood caught in Louisiana is exported, and 90% of the seafood consumed in Louisiana is imported - a dismal statistic. Make sure you’re eating straight from the gulf and our surrounding lakes, rivers and bayous by shopping from any of our Crescent City Farmers Market water masters.

CCFM features five Louisiana seafood vendors: Pete and Clara’s Seafood, Four Winds Seafood, Des Allemands Outlaw Katfish, Anna Marie Seafood, and The Fisherman’s Wife, a brand new vendor from Port Sulphur. Unfortunately, we are currently buoying in the slow season so availability is not optimal, but you can find Pete and Clara’s Seafood at the Uptown and Downtown markets and returning to the Ochsner market in March as well as Des Allemands Outlaw Katfish at the Uptown market. Our friends Four Winds Seafood will be back soon and The Fisherman’s Wife are right behind. Fresh, local seafood is just one of countless perks of living in the South, and now that Lent is almost here it’s a perfect time to start adding more to your diet - swing by the market to collect your bounty!

Picks of the Week:

Happy Mardi Gras

Everywhere else it’s just Tuesday, but here it’s Mardi Gras! That means parades, second lines, king cake, fried chicken, beads and bling. To that end, the Tuesday Uptown market will be closed tomorrow, February 25th for celebrations. We will reopen all markets Wednesday, February 26th so be sure to come by to restock on veggies and other healthy things after this season of revelry. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Oh, SNAP!

Here at Crescent City Farmers Market, we are dedicated to increasing access to healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, by helping to reduce some of the economic barriers experienced by our shoppers. Our Market Match program is just one way CCFM can help. You can shop at any of our markets and use your EBT or SNAP benefits and with our Market Match program, you can double those benefits spent at the market up to $20 each day we host a market! Don’t have SNAP? Think you might qualify? Let CCFM lend you a helping hand. Stop by the 200 Broadway location on Tuesday from 9a-3p and we can assist you in completing an online SNAP application. Friendly reminder our SNAP sign-up assistance pilot at the Treme Recreation Center on Thursdays will come to a close this Thursday, the 27th.

Oh Snap!

Ahh, the humble snap pea: crunchy, sweet, and delightful. While we love to snack on ‘em raw or with a side of ranch, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy these little legumes! Try sauteing them in a stir fry, adding them to a soup, or tossing them in a springy salad. Poche’s Family Farm will have snap peas at our Tuesday and Saturday markets for a short window of time, so snatch em up while you can!

Vendor of the Week:

Des Allemands Outlaw Katfish

Catfish and gator lovers rejoice! Mrs. Jeannie is back at the Tuesday Uptown market with crawfish tails, crab meat, Des Allemands catfish, and alligator meat. We’ve missed Mrs. Jeannie’s fresh seafood and her beautiful smile even more! Just a heads up, her attendance may be irregular as they get back into the swing of things, check out who is at the market to confirm attendance.

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:

Kinoko

Tuesday market is closed this week, but Kinoko will join us starting next week for the month of March with her vegan sushi and we can’t wait!

Recipe of the Week:

Quick Braised Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas

It may not be spring just yet, but the blooming magnolias and sunny afternoons sure have us fooled. This recipe is as simple as it is seasonal, signifying the end of winter here in Louisiana. With this quick-braising technique, the carrots become buttery and the snap peas add a crisp texture and color. If you want to add even more pizzazz, try using multi-colored carrots. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and an herb of your choice, and this side dish is a snap!

What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook or even Twitter and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter!